The Waratahs will be out for revenge when they take on the Brumbies in their Australian derby in Sydney on Saturday.

The home side and their Canberra-based counterparts finished as their country’s top teams in last year’s tournament but the Brumbies had the satisfaction of finishing at the top of the Australian conference – three points ahead of the ‘Tahs – and they also beat the 2014 champions in both their matches in 2016.

The Waratahs have won 13 of their previous 16 home games against the Brumbies, though were pipped in a 26-20 loss in the last such fixture which was also played in Sydney.

Although the tournament is still in its infancy, both sides are currently amongst the also rans in the standings and are yet to deliver a convincing performance in the competition.

The Waratahs are back in Australia after a disastrous tour to South Africa in which they conceded nearly a one hundred points in their defeats to the
Lions and Sharks.

The Brumbies, meanwhile head into this clash after finally registering their first win of the campaign against the Western Force last week but they had to dig deep as they did not see of their rivals from Australia’s west coast.

Despite it being early in the season, Waratahs prop Sekope Kepu admitted there will be a lot on the line against the Brumbies.

“It’s a massive game, it’s one of those one’s you really look forward to going up against guys you know at a national level,” he said.

“They (Brumbies) bring massive experience, it’s going to be a challenge. We’ve got to be on top of our game, go out and play our game.

“In the first three games we haven’t played to our full potential. We’ve got to lead the way as a front row. In a way it’s something that I’m really looking to.”